Too often, for whatever reason, both adults and teens are treated as if they are one and the same. As a result the outlook for teen alcoholics is pretty bleak. Statistics show that teen alcohol dependents are more likely to go back to alcoholic drinking after 'generic' alcoholism treatment than their adult counterparts.

There are, however, treatment centers out there that treat only alcoholism in teens. There are also adult rehabs that have separate facilities for teens.

It is essential that when looking for a rehab facility for an adolescent that you ascertain whether they cater specifically to teens.

This page looks at the the different needs of adolescents suffering from alcoholism and how treatment should differ accordingly.

Teenage Alcoholism Treatment vs. Adult Alcoholism Treatment

Teenage alcoholism treatment and adult alcoholism treatment programs follow similar structures. Both forms of treatment protocol focus on the psychosocial as well as the physiological aspect of the problem.

However, as outlined above, due to the disparate nature of the problem, these alcohol treatment programs need to follow completely different protocols (treatment types).

Teenage alcoholism treatment and adult alcoholism treatment adopt the same program outline. The difference lies in the focus or treatment objectives.

In an adult alcohol treatment program, the objectives focus on the need to keep the patient sober and enable recovering patients to maintain sobriety after their treatment while going through their normal daily routine.

Teen alcohol treatment programs come in two major forms.

The first allows juvenile alcoholics to continue with their studies while receiving treatment for their alcohol problem. The main concern of this program is to prevent major disruptions in the normal routine of teenage alcoholics while undertaking the necessary intervention and support for them to overcome their addiction.

The second prioritizes the recovery from alcohol addiction and development of sobriety skills. Under this setup, patients will have to leave school and be committed to a treatment facility.

While this type of teenage alcoholism treatment program more or less follows the same treatment protocol used in adult rehab centers, therapists and counselors in adolescent alcohol rehab are required to observe higher level of sensitivity to account for the innate immaturity, lack of experience and responsibility of their young patients.

Alcohol rehab facilities that specialize in treating alcoholism in teens also need to take into account the potential negative effects of alcohol in the growth and development of their patients.

Teenage Alcoholism Treatment: What To Expect

Teenage or young adult alcohol treatment is a highly specialized treatment protocol that is focused on the innate nature and unique needs of adolescents who are addicted to alcohol.

In contrast to the treatment program for adult alcoholics, teenagers are still going through the initial stages of alcohol abuse and rarely are there cases of full-blown alcoholism.

To understand the difference between alcohol abuse and alcoholism, read drinking problems.

However, we have to remember that teenagers and young adults are highly susceptible to alcohol dependency and abuse, and the ramifications can be more pronounced.

The primary treatment objective is to help teenagers revert back to their healthy and normal mental and emotional state as soon as possible since they are more likely to suffer from irreversible developmental disorders and problems as a result of alcohol abuse and alcoholism.

Teenage alcoholism treatment is more of mental and emotional than a physiological challenge. You have to focus on the developmental issues such as:

immaturity

low self-esteem

lack of self-confidence

emotional vulnerability

poor sense of accountability and responsibility

fixation for instant gratification

impatience

recklessness

These developmental challenges increase the probability of teenage alcohol abuse and alcoholism. If they are not addressed during treatment then a relapse back into drinking is the likely outcome.

Thus, for a teenage alcoholism program to be effective, it must focus and resolve these major developmental challenges being faced by teenagers as well as young adults. In fact, these actions points are key to the effective treatment of alcoholism in teens.

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Deborah Morrow, M.S. Addiction Psychology, is the director of treatment programs for The Alcoholism Guide website. In her practice Deborah provides on-line coaching and support for those dependent on alcohol or who require other services such as relapse prevention or court mandated services. (Read More)